Bottle-cap



y Patented Nov. 29, |898. L. G. FLANIGAN.

BOTTLE CAP.

(Application led Aug. 27, 1898.)

`(No Model.)

A TTOHNE Y S.

S. E 3 S w M i I I l UNITED STATES PATENT Gruen.

LOISA GREBE FLANIGAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLECAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patet NO. 614,942, dated November29, 1898. Application led August 27, 1898. Serial No. 689,667. (N0mOdel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIsA GREBE FLANI- GAN, of Baltimore city, in theState of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBottle-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of bottle-stoppers which close themouth of the bottle by means of an external metal cap provided with aninterior elastic washer, which cap is forced down to compress andtighten the washer over the mouth of the bottle, and the lower edges ofwhich metallcap are then spun or compressed around an external flan geor enlargement near the mouth of the bottle to retain the cap in placeand hermetically seal the bottle.

My invention consists in a cap formed with .a circumferential inturnedflange around its upper and outer edge, which is adapted to receive theend of a tool to pry off the cap and which also makes a strongreinforced edge or crown for the bottle-mouth which protects it frombreakage.

It also consists in the combinatiomwith said cap, of a disk or platesecured beneath the inturned flange and having a proj ectingthumbpieceor lug to avoid the use of a separate tool on removing the cap, as willbe herein,

after fully described;

Figure l represents three stages in the formation of the bottle-cap.Fig. 2 is a side view of the cap applied to a bottle-neck. Fig. 3 is avertical section through the cap and bottle-neck. Fig.4 is a plan viewof the cap. Figs. 5 and G are views similar to Fig. 3, but showingmodifications of my invention.

A is the bottlecap,which is preferably made of sheet metal. 1t is formedaround its upper circumferential edges with a standing flange or crownc2, which is turned inwardly toward the center of the bottle. Thisleaves the central top portion of the cap slightly depressed, and thespace within the depression is of greater diameter at the bottom than itis at the top. The sides of the cap extend downward in the form of apendent skirt, forming a hollow cupped bottom that incloses thebottle-neck. Inside the cap there is the usual elastic washer B, whichmay be made of cork, rubber, leather, wood, Celluloid, or any otherdesired material.

The cap is applied to the bottle in the usual way of caps-i. e., it isforced down over the mouth of the bottle to compress the elastic washeragainst the mouth of the bottle to tightly close it-and the lower edgeof the cap is then spun, compressed, or otherwise clenched around theexternal bulge or swell e, formed in the glass.

My invention has no reference to the manner of closing the bottle, butonly to the manner of removing the cap and forming a better protectionto the mouth of the bottle, and for this purpose the inturnedcircumferential flange or crown d2 plays an important part, for itsinturned edge affords a purchase for a tool having a round chisel-shapededge fitting beneath said flange, as shown at if in dotted lines inFigs. 3 and 4. When such a tool is thus applied, its end catches underthe flange at one side of the cap, and the side of the tool fulcrums onthe flange at the other side of the cap, and when strained in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 3 it dislodges the cap from theprojection e on the mouth of the bottle in a simple and practical way.Not only is this result obtained, but this standing flange forms areinforced crown extending all around the edges of the mouth of thebottle and protects it against being chipped by accidental abrasions orblows.

To form my bottle-cap, it is struck up from sheet metal rst in a plaincup shape, as at a, Fig. l, and then in a second stamping operation thestanding peripheral flange of double thickness is raised, as at d', andthen in a final operation this standing flange is swaged inwardly by aconcave or hollow cone die, as seen in dotted lines at d.

When it is desired that the bottle shall be provided with its ownopening devices, I simply place a plate or disk C or C', Figs. 5 and 6,on the top of the partially-formed cap a', and then when the swaging-died turns the lian ge inward it securely locks this disk to the top of thecap. This disk or plate is formed with a laterally-projectingthumb-piece c, as in Fig. 5, or with a vertically-'extending andperforated tang or lug c', as in Fig. 6, either IOO "gof which formsafford aconvenient hold for ils ` pulling olf the cap.

In making use of my invention I would have it understood that I do notconfine it to bottles alone, as it is equally applicable to jars, cans,or any other form of vessel capable of being closed by such cap, and Iintend to so apply it.

In defining my invention With greater clearness I would state that I amaware that a sheet-metal pail has been constructed with an inturnedupper edge inclosing a Wire and a cover Which has an annular depressionwhich is adapted to be forced under the marginal inturned edge of thepail by a special inachine. This construction is essentially differentfrom mine, as is also its mode of action. In my invention the cap Withthe inturned flange along its circumferential edge is formed completebefore it is applied to a bottle, whereas in the construction referredto the cover is expanded beneath the overhanging edge of the pail aftersaid cover is applied. Furthermore, in my construction the inturnedflange surrounding the cap is of two thicknesses of metal that lie flatagainst each other, forming a stiff reinforcing crest or crown Which isstout enough to form a firm dislodging hold for the tool, While in thepailcover the bends are not in contact, and one of them incloses theinturned head or Wire at the edge of the pail, so that it could not bedislodged by a tool, as in my case, for the reason that the tool endWould underlie the wire head at the margin of the pail.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure'by Letters Patent, is-

l. A bottle-cap having on its upper edge a circumferential inturnedflange formed of Walls of double thickness lying flat against each otherand an open space Within the flange of greater diameter at the bottomthan it is at the top, and aV pendent skirt adapted to inclose the neckof the bottle substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A bottle-cap having on its upper edge a circumferential inturnedflange formed of walls of double thickness lying flat against eachother, a central depression on top of greater diameter at the bottom ofthe flange than it is at the top, and a cup-shaped bottom substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

3. A bottle-cap having on its upper edge a circumferential inturnedflange of double thickness forming an inner space of greater diameter atthe bottom than it is at the top, substantially as and for the purposede scribed.

4. The combination of a bottle-cap formed with a circumferentialinturned flange around its upper edges, and an attached dislodgingplateretained beneath the inturned flange substantially as and for thepurpose described.

LGUISA GREBE FLANIGAN. Witnesses:

FELIX R. SULLIVAN, D. B. TAYLOR.

